Lying is universally known
as having a negative connotation. As children, we are continuously scolded any
time we are caught lying. As we get older, we try to prevent guilt by using
term such as “white lie” or “fib”. Yet, we has humans will inevitably lie
throughout our lives. Why is it that we put ourselves through such a guilty and
shameful process when we know it’s wrong?
One answer could be to say that it is natural. No
individual is perfect, and even if we are completely aware that something is
morally wrong, we still may occasionally slip up. Another explanation backed up
by psychological research, is that we are most likely to display a specific
behavior when that behavior is reinforced through a variable-ratio schedule of
reward. This means that an individual will never know how much reward he or she
will receive with the occurrence of a particular behavior, or if there will be
reward at all. So when we lie, it is to see if we will get away with it.
If executed successfully, lying can free us from awkward
situations, prevent us from hurting the feelings of others, and enhance our
social status. Most of the time, the mere chance of such rewards being reaped
will convince us to take the risk. This type of prioritization is shown in any
species with a well developed forebrain, since these types of species often deem
socialization an important aspect of survival.
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